W. M. Tomkins

Source: History of Northern Wisconsin: Containing
an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development, and Resources, an
Extensive Sketch of Its Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages, Their
Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Biographical Sketches, Portraits
of Prominent Men and Early Settlers, Views of County Seats, Etc.
Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881. p. 73

W. M. TOMKINS, lawyer, Ashland, was born in England, near
London, Feb. 24, 1845. He came to America in 1850, and moved to southwest
Wisconsin, where his father was a Methodist preacher, and moved from
place to place. He died in 1870. Mr. Tomkins took three terms at Bronson
Institute, and was in the junior course of the State University, when
he was compelled to leave in order to support the family. In 1870, he
entered mercantile life in Adamsville, in Iowa County, and afterward
went into a grist-mill, but sold out to his partner, and in April, 1873,
came to Lake Superior. He came on foot from Duluth to Ashland, and on
arriving went to work with ax and shovel to clear the town site. He
was appointed Town Clerk in 1873, and also filled the offices of Deputy
County Clerk and Justice, at the same time commencing the study of law.
He was elected Town Clerk in 1874-5, and was admitted to the bar. He
was elected District Attorney in the Fall of 1875, and Superintendent
of Schools in 1878. He is now Deputy County Treasurer, practicing attorney
and real estate and abstract broker. He married, in 1872, Miss Elizabeth
A. Pierce, of Iowa County. They have three children—A. Pierce,
G. Webb and W. Clark. Mr. Tomkins belongs to the Masonic order.